Olonisakin Meets Cameroon’s External Minister, Pledges Nigeria’s Commitment to Improved Ties
By Emeka Nwankpa on July 14, 2021
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Ambassador Olonisakin Submitting his letter to the External Relations Minister Mr. Mbella Mbella
There are fresh indications of Nigeria’s willingness and commitment to improving the existing bilateral ties with Cameroon for the promotion of their common interests ranging from diplomatic, educational, economic, agriculture, military and general security, among others.
These emerged on Tuesday in Yaounde when the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin (rtd) who is now Nigeria’s new Ambassador for the first time met Cameroon’s Minister of External Relations, Mr. Lejeune Mbella Mbella in the country’s capital city.
Ambassador Olonisakin, who was accompanied on the visit by top functionaries of the Nigerian High Commission in Cameroon, formally presented copies of his credentials to the Cameroonian Minister of External Relations, an event which signified that the host country has officially recognized him as Nigeria’s new envoy in the foremost Central African country.
Conveying the warm greetings and goodwill of President Muhammadu Buhari on behalf of the Nigerian Government and its good people, Ambassador Olonisakin said he was in the country to strengthen and promote the existing bilateral ties between Nigeria and Cameroon, noting that both countries would continue to work together because of the mutual destinies they share in common which he pledged to continue to promote. He then sought the support and understanding of the host country to achieve his mission in the country.
Welcoming Ambassador Olonisakin to his office, the Cameroonian External Relations Minister Mr. Mbella Mbella congratulated him on his appointment and expressed delight that his country was privileged to have a distinguished retired military general of Olonisakin’s caliber as Nigeria’s new ambassador to Cameroon. He described the existing relations between both countries as warm, cordial and historical, expressing the hope that it would be sustained in the coming years.
He also expressed the hope that the new Ambassador will work towards fine-tuning the existing brotherly relationship between both countries.
It will be recalled that jubilant Nigerians resident in Cameroon trooped out last week at Yaounde Nsimalen International Airport to welcome the new envoy and his wife, Omobolanle in what was interpreted in the local community as a rare show of communality and love for Nigeria said to be unprecedented in the tenures of Nigeria’s envoys in the country. The immediate past High Commissioner was Ambassador Lawan Abba Gashagar.
Ambassador Olonisakin is billed to present his letter of credence to President Paul Biya of Cameroon soon, diplomatic sources said yesterday, describing his arrival as the dawn of a new era in the historical relationship between Nigeria and the French-speaking country.
There is an estimated 5 million Nigerian population in Cameroon largely made up of the business class, apart from others that are into various sectors of life in the country. Local media reports said yesterday that the Olonisakin’s arrival has sparked off a beehive of activities arising from expectations of new economic opportunities for hard-working and peaceful Nigerians living in that country whose 2020 figure, at 26, 545,863 people, ranks 52 in the list of countries by population.
Cameroon is often known as ‘Africa in miniature’ because of its geographical and cultural diversity. The Central African country is reputed to have one of the highest literacy rates in Africa.
Among the high-powered delegation that received the former CDS on arrival in Yaounde were the Deputy High Commissioner, Lami Sauda Remawa-Ahmed, the Consul General, Consulate General of Nigeria, Douala, HRM Queen Efe Alexandra Clark-Okeru and the Defense Adviser, Commodore Nnamdi Ekwon.
Others were the Head of Chancery, Consulate General of Nigeria Buea, Mr. Samuel T. Amuh, top diplomats from the Cameroonian Ministry of External Relations and the enlarged Nigerian community comprising the Nigerian Union Womens’ Wing, ethnic and cultural dance groups
Source Soundbite NEWS
Posted on July, 14 2021

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